It’s been around two and a half years since I wandered around and had a look at which shops were empty or had something interesting about them.  Here is the previous post.

So I’ve been out to see what I can document

Of course this time around, we are in a very different situation with covid-19 and it’s difficult to know where we will be this time next year.

The former Oxfam which became a Bright House when they moved out of the Swan Centre, now appears to be closed.

I think this was a Nail Bar… but it has gone.

I’m not sure when this opened… it was the sewing shop, and I’m guessing it opened before lockdown.

Also, I don’t know when this appeared… or remember what it was! 

AC Models looks to have closed half the shop – this was where the Games Workshop stuff was sold, so I don’t know what the plan is.

JKS Wine Bar did reopen, now called The Chalet.

The Italian Restaurant looks to have closed (although it’s difficult to tell).

This was an estate agent… Still got the Rightmove logo in the window.

I think this opened since last time, in a former kitchen shop.

This has replaced a newsagent.  Haven’t had cause to go in though.

Store Twenty One finally bit the dust.  This whole building is a bit of a mess now and needs something doing with it.

Carphone Warehouse isn’t going to reopen, and so you have to go to Currys-PC World.

Sailors’ Society charity shop has closed down.

This opened just before lockdown.

This was the greengrocers who moved next door, then it became a pasty shop, but it has now closed.

This was Thomas Cook, who got taken over by Hay’s Travel – which already has a shop in Eastleigh.

Empty last time round, this is now a Nail Bar.

This looks to have finally closed. It even had a makeover since last time…

The former Ghandi’s Chopsticks is now a dance centre.  It looks to have reopened since closing for lockdown. I hope it works out.

There are other shops in the Swan Centre that have closed – including Argos at the moment.  I hope that reopens but I suspect it won’t.

I do not really mean “revisited”.  I do live here after all.  I’m adding an update to a blog post I did in the middle of 2015, where I looked at the empty shops in the town centre.  Read that post here.

There has been quite a few changes over the two and a half years, although in some cases there has been no change as you will see.  Other shops have also come and gone but are not included here.  To be honest, it’s not too bad.  There doesn’t appear to be as many empty shops as last time, so that’s good.

Let us have a look at what hasn’t changed.

The former restaurant know as “Ghandi’s Chopsticks” is still closed, although I think it has had some refurbishment.

JKS Wine Bar – still awaiting refurbishment!  I did hear that somebody might be taking it over, but I won’t hold my breath.

The old Chinese medicine shop finally had the scaffolding taken down, allowing for the paving to be put down. It’s still empty though.

What about the shops that are now empty since my last round of photos.

The former Oxfam has been empty for a while.  It is a shame that this closed down as I used to get some good books there.

This was originally Blockbusters when I first moved to Eastleigh.  Then it’s been a second hand game shop for some time.  Rumour is that it will be a Piri-Piri chicken restaurant, although Eastleigh already has a Nando’s.

Store Twenty One.  A recent casualty.   This is part of a building that contains an old night club.  I think the council need to buy it, demolish it and build some affordable flats.

So that leaves the shops that were empty, and are now occupied.

The former CO-OP travel is now a barber shop.

Another barber shop in what was a hairdresser.  An Estate Agent where the Daily Echo used to be.

Phone Gadgets 4u in the formally closed down Phone 4u shop.  Original thinking there…  The shop next door has had a bit of a revamp!

Shakeaway finally closed down, and was replaced by a cafe.  As a homage to the original occupants they have left one bit of yellow wall.